JC tops Lincoln

The Patriots posted their lowest score since the season opener. But it was still enough for a victory.
Powered by three first-place finishes from Katie Snyder and a key balance-beam effort from Olivia Cash, the Jay County High School gymnastics team posted a 96.325-88.35 victory Monday over the visiting Lincoln (Cambridge City) Golden Eagles.
The Tri Titans did not have enough gymnasts for a team score.
“It was not our best meet of the season,” said JCHS coach Lora Schlosser, whose team had scored 98.025 and 97.65 in its previous two meets. “Hopefully it never goes this low again and we go nowhere but up from here.”
Snyder’s best effort came on the vault, where she continues to chase the school record of 9.575 held by Danae Klatt. She hit both of her Yerchenkos and posted a 9.15 to win ahead of teammates Malarie Houck (8.8) and Tasya Smith (8.7).
“I think she’s getting more confident,” said Schlosser. “She’s becoming a little more explosive, trusting herself. It’s getting a little cleaner.
“Her vault little by little we’re going up. We’re not there yet, but hopefully by sectional/regional time we can get it there.”
The junior also took the top spot on the floor exercise with an 8.875 and the uneven bars with an 8.375.
Michelle Seidner, a junior, picked up the lone victory for Lincoln, taking the balance beam with an 8.545 ahead of Snyder (8.175). The 2011 regional qualifier on the bars finished second on that event with an 8.2.
Tri’s top score was an 8.0 from Brittney Spicer on the vault.
While the beam was a struggle for most of the Patriots — their six varsity gymnasts combined for 12 falls — Cash had a career night.
The junior hit her cartwheels and jumps, two of the skills that she said she sometimes struggles with, and turned in the Patriots’ lone no-fall routine of the evening. She posted a career-best 7.05 to finish second on the team and third overall behind Seidner and Snyder.
“It was exciting,” said Cash. “I’ve never placed that high on beam before, so I’m proud of myself.
“That was probably the best I’ve ever felt about it. … I’ve worked really hard this year trying to do better than my scores last year.”
“That was great,” added Schlosser. “I was looking forward to that. She’s been working hard. She’s been looking good.
“She just was more solid. She’s got her skills. She’s got her body square to the beam. We’ve been preaching that and she was able to get it done.”
Cash’s top career score on the event heading into this season was a 6.7. She gave credit to teammate Shelby Pryor for helping her get mentally prepared for her performance.
“She is a really good senior and she just tells me to go out there and have fun and show my confidence that I can do this,” Cash said. “It really does help.”
In addition to her runner-up finish on the vault, Houck was also third on both the floor (7.6) and bars (7.3).
Smith took second place on the floor with an 8.35, and Pryor tied for third with Houck with a 7.6.
Also scoring for the Patriots were Cortney Myers on the bars (7.1) and Houck on the beam (6.85).
Alexis Murrell won three junior varsity events for the Patriots, posting a high score of 7.8 on the vault.[[In-content Ad]]